Thread protector



Dec. 2, 1930. H. A. UNKE 1,783,892

THREAD PROTECTOR Filed April 19. 1928' Tyzuenfofi W'M V M Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PAT NT[OFF E aunts. um, or CLEVELAND, omo I THR AD rao'rnc'ron' Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to devices for protecting the threads of pipes and other parts, during shipment and handling, and this application is in part a division of my earlier application Serial No. 131,943, filed August 27, 1926, and the invention herein described is also disclosed in my earlier application .Serial No. 135,544, filed September 15, 1926.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the end of a pieceof pipe on which there is shown one form of thread protector, embodying my invention, the protector being shown in section on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2is an-elevation of the left-handend of the protector, shown in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is anend elevation of another form of protector embodying this invention; and Fig. 4is an axial section of the same. In the form of protector illustrated in Figs. 3a '1 and 2, I provide a cup-shaped sleeve 33, the internal diameter of which is larger than the external diameter of the threads, and this sleeve has a circumferential bead 34, at its inner end, adapted to engage between two 7 threads. As the sleeve33. is manufactured,

' the bead 34 is not of annular form, being slightly distorted as shown in Fig. 2. -When the sleeve is forced over the threads, the latter tend to spring the bead 34 into annular 40 form but the resiliency of the metal of the sleeve causes the head to spring into the space between two threads and thereby hold the sleevein position. The end flange 35 engages the end of the pipe, and while the bead 34 and the flange 35 do not make tight joints with the pipe, these connections are' sufliciently tight to permit this form of protector to beused for protecting the threads in such coating operations as galvanizing. A slight amount of the galvanizing material 1923. Seria11lo.271,18't.'

will work into the space between the threads. and the protector, butlexperience has. shown that the amount of the coating material that adheres to the threads is relatively insignifi-- cant but 1s suflicient to. prevent rusting durin storage or is in transit.

To increase the resiliency of the metal of the beadedend so that the protector will engage the'threads very firmly, and to materlally strengthen and thus. fortify the protector against. permanent distortion, I harden and stiffen the 'metal of that portion of the protector in which the head 34 is located; This'hardenin' and st'iifening of the metal may be accomp ished bywo'rking or stressing the metal of this portion of the protector, as by rolling, or by means of drawmg dies such as are disclosed by .me in said earlier application, Serial No. 135,544, filed September 15, 1926, and which I- have found to be very efl'ective. I

In the protector shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

the end having the head 34 is made slightly oval 1n shape, and in the protector shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the end having the bead 36 is slightly flattened at a plurality of points,

as shown at 37, 38' and 39. In otherrespects,

the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 s substantially the same as that illustrated -1n Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus describedmy invention what I claim is: l

1. In combination with a threaded element,

a thread protector comprising a metal sleeve having at one end. thereofan' end wall portion engaging the end of the .threa'ded-element, and at its other end said sleeve having a non-circular inturned annular bead engaging the threads of said-element at spacedpoints only.

2.- In combination with a threaded ele merit, a thread protector comprising a metal sleeve having at one end thereof a wall por- I as ing the time that the pipeis normallyheld harder than that at the first mentioned end of said sleeve.

3. A protector for a threaded element,

comprising a metal sleeve having a laterally extending wall portion at one end thereof, and at its other end said sleeve having a radially flexible non-circular continuous head for engagement with the threads of said element at spaced points only.

4. A protector for a threaded element, comprising a metal sleeve having means at one end thereof for engagement with the end of said element, and a circumferential inturned bead at its other end, said bead having spaced portions thereof lying at a shorter radial distance from the axis of said sleeve than the sections of said head intermediate said spaced portions.

5. A protector for a threaded element? comprising a metal sleeve having means at one end thereof for engagement with the end' surface of said element, and non-circular means at its other end for engagement with the threads of said element at spaced points only, said non-circular means comprising a zubsitantially smooth continuous annular In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my signature. l

HERMAN A. UNKE. 

